Henry V

William Shakespeare

Since Henry V is the last play of Shakespeare's tetra logy, the earlier three plays shed some
light upon the present play. The Elizabethan audiences which Shakespeare was writing for
would have known these earlier plays and, of course, they would have been familiar with many
of the characters in this play. Therefore, since Henry V is the play which shows King Henry V as
the ideal Christian monarch, the earlier plays leading up to this figure of perfection are
enlightening. For example, when Henry prays just before the Battle of Agincourt, he says:

Not to-day, O Lord,

O, not to-day, think not upon the fault

My father made in compassing the crown.

(IV.i.310-12)

He is referring to the manner in which his father, Henry IV, became king. The fault referred to is
the deposition and murder of Richard II, a theme which runs throughout all of the plays in this
tetralogy. Henry V, therefore, is the Christian king who wears a crown gotten by questionable
means. Furthermore, characters like Bardolph and Pistol and Hostess Quickly had appeared in
some of these earlier plays, and there are many references to the famous Sir John Falstaff, one
of Shakespeare's greatest comic creations. Therefore, a brief knowledge of the earlier plays will
clearly enhance the reading, enjoyment, and understanding of Henry V.

Background of Shakespeare’s related history plays

RICHARD II (Synopsis)

The play opens with a dispute between Henry Bolingbroke, Duke of Hereford, and Thomas
Mowbray, Duke of Norfolk. Bolingbroke has accused Mowbray of treason, and the two of
them exchange insults in the presence of King Richard. After attempts to reconcile them fail,
Richard orders them to take part in a traditional chivalric trial by combat. On the field of
combat, the king changes his mind and banishes the two men—Bolingbroke for ten years
(commuted to six) and Mowbray for life. Then the king makes plans to leave for the wars in
Ireland.

Before departing, Richard visits the ailing father of Bolingbroke, John of Gaunt, Duke of
Lancaster. Gaunt warns Richard with his dying words that he is flirting with danger and doing
great harm to the country by allowing himself to be influenced by his sycophantic courtiers.
When the old man dies, Richard takes possession of all of Gaunt's wealth and sets out for
Ireland.

Unhappy with Richard's incompetence as a ruler and worried by his seizure of the Duke of
Lancaster's wealth, a number of nobles rally support for Henry Bolingbroke. When
Bolingbroke and his army decide to return from exile in France, the rebel forces prepare to
confront Richard on his return from Ireland.

The rebel noblemen force the king to abdicate, and Bolingbroke is crowned as Henry IV.
Richard is imprisoned in Pomfret Castle, where he faces his death alone, philosophically
contemplating the meaning of his fall from grandeur. Sir Pierce of Exton decides solely on his
own to execute the deposed king; as a result, he is banished by King Henry. The play ends
with Henry IV planning a penitential pilgrimage to the Holy Land.